FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — A Fort Worth man was furious after his 5-year-old Yorkshire Terrier was nearly killed in an encounter with a mail carrier. Now, that mail carrier is facing animal cruelty charges.

Fort Worth police on Thursday said the U.S. Postal Service worker has not yet been arrested. Sgt. Raymond Bush says the warrant was issued Tuesday and the mail carrier’s name would not be released until his arrest.

Brown says he saw the mail carrier, asked what happened and the postman said he struck the dog with a rock.

A spokeswoman with the US Postal Service defended the mail carrier’s actions, though the postal worker has been on paid leave since the incident.

“The dog was loose, not in their own yard, and was coming at the letter carrier,” said US Postal Service spokeswoman Arlene Sanchez. “It was a dog attack, and the letter carrier was defending himself.”